Water Quality Legend

Current Status

Grey means water quality information for the beach is too old (more than 7 days old) to be considered current, or that info is unavailable, or unreliable.

Historical Status

When swimming season is over or when a beach's water quality data has not been updated frequently enough (weekly) it goes into historical status. This means that rather than displaying current data it displays the beach's average water quality for that year.

Green means the beach passed water quality tests 95% of the time or more.

Yellow means the beach passed water quality tests 60-95% of the time.

Red means the beach failed water quality tests 40% of the time or more.

Special Status

We may manually set the status for a specific beach if we have concerns about the sampling protocol, if there is an emergency, if monitoring practices don't exist or have recently changed, or other reasons that render this site "special."

Green means the beach has historically excellent or pristine water quality, but there is no current data.

Red means the water at the site has water quality issues or there is an emergency.

Grey means there is no current water quality information, the beach is under construction, there has been an event that has rendered water quality information unreliable or unavailable.

See the beach description for more information regarding their special status.

Denbigh Boat Ramp

There is plenty of parking for visitors to come and unload their boats. The water is flat and one can easily see across the soft, blue water. Not as much activity for people without boats, but many can enjoy the calming view of the river from the site. Swimming at the boat ramps is not permitted.

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WATER QUALITY

Passed water quality tests 60-95% of the time

Historical Status

This status is based on the latest sample, taken on . James River Association updates the status of this beach as soon as test results become available. These results were posted to Swim Guide on at

James Riverkeepers manage a water quality monitoring program covering 25 testing locations throughout the James watershed. Water samples are collected and processed for E. coli, turbidity, air/water temperature, conductivity and salinity (at brackish water sites).

James Riverkeepers collect samples every Thursday from May (Memorial Day) to September (Labor Day).

Bacterial Contamination

A beach is posted if it exceeds the following water quality standards put forward by the state:

A value =/> 235 cfu/100 mL

High bacteria levels, unsafe temperatures, or elevated river height trigger notification on the website that conditions are unsafe (www.jamesriverwatch.org).

Once bacteria results are available (approximately 24-hours after sample collection), results are immediately posted on the James River Watch website (www.jamesriverwatch.org), which informs the public of river conditions. They are also communicated through the Swim Guide app and website. Health advisories are rescinded when the above standards are met.

Monitoring Status

A beach is marked Green when a single sample result is under 235 CFU/100 mL and other conditions are relatively non-threatening.

A beach is marked Red when one consecutive single sample result is equal to or above 235 CFU/100 mL.

A beach is marked Grey if there is no current results or no available information.

Denbigh Boat Ramp

This status is based on the latest sample, taken on . James River Association updates the status of this beach as soon as test results become available. These results were posted to Swim Guide on at

For water quality icon legend, click:

There is plenty of parking for visitors to come and unload their boats. The water is flat and one can easily see across the soft, blue water. Not as much activity for people without boats, but many can enjoy the calming view of the river from the site. Swimming at the boat ramps is not permitted.

James Riverkeepers manage a water quality monitoring program covering 25 testing locations throughout the James watershed. Water samples are collected and processed for E. coli, turbidity, air/water temperature, conductivity and salinity (at brackish water sites).

James Riverkeepers collect samples every Thursday from May (Memorial Day) to September (Labor Day).

Bacterial Contamination

A beach is posted if it exceeds the following water quality standards put forward by the state:

A value =/> 235 cfu/100 mL

High bacteria levels, unsafe temperatures, or elevated river height trigger notification on the website that conditions are unsafe (www.jamesriverwatch.org).

Once bacteria results are available (approximately 24-hours after sample collection), results are immediately posted on the James River Watch website (www.jamesriverwatch.org), which informs the public of river conditions. They are also communicated through the Swim Guide app and website. Health advisories are rescinded when the above standards are met.

Monitoring Status

A beach is marked Green when a single sample result is under 235 CFU/100 mL and other conditions are relatively non-threatening.

A beach is marked Red when one consecutive single sample result is equal to or above 235 CFU/100 mL.

A beach is marked Grey if there is no current results or no available information.

Swim Guide shares the best information we have at the moment you ask for it. Always obey signs at the beach or advisories from official government agencies. Stay alert and check for other swimming hazards such as dangerous currents and tides. Please report your pollution concerns so Affiliates can help keep other beach-goers safe.
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